On June 13, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao announced the upcoming visits respectively by NPC Vice Chairman Xu Jialu to five African nations, by Foreign Minister Tang Jianxuan to Thailand for the First Informal Gathering of Foreign Ministers of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, and by a delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia to China.


Q: Under the pressure from the international community, India has agreed to take some measures to defuse the tension on the India-Pakistan border. What’s China’s position on the resumption of dialogues between India and Pakistan to realize the lasting peace and on pullout of the border troops to where they were during the time of peace? What’s your comment on the recent visit to India and Pakistan by US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld?

A: China welcomes the measures taken by India and Pakistan to further relax the tension and supports the efforts to defuse the tension by the international community.


Q: What’s your comment on the “First Strike” policy proposed by US President Bush on June 1? What has been discussed by China and Russia on the disarmament consultation in Moscow on June 5?

A: To answer your first question, I would like to say that to seek peace, cooperation and development is the common aspiration of people of all countries. In order to maintain world peace and stability, all countries should conform to the trend of the times, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as universally recognized norms governing international relations.

As for the second question, on June 5, China and Russia had an in-depth exchange of views on strategic stability, US-Russia nuclear disarmament, prevention of the outer space from being weaponized, non-proliferation and other issues in Moscow. The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining global strategic stability and the current international arms control and disarmament system and further promotion of multi-lateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation process. Both sides said they would work together with the international community to continue to make efforts in this regard.


Q: It has been reported by South Korean media that China has changed its attitude in dealing with the issue of illegal entries into foreign embassies in China, requiring all the embassies and consulates to hand over the intruders to the Chinese side. Please confirm that. Has China raised this new requirement to South Korean and Canadian Embassies in China?  

A: Yesterday, the Department of Consular Affairs of Foreign Ministry issued a note to all the foreign embassies in China, stating that the recent cases of citizens of the third country breaking into foreign embassies in China has not only directly endangered the security of embassies and consulates concerned and interfered their work, but also has posed a challenge to the Chinese Law and threatened China’s public security and stability. According to the principle enshrined in the international law that embassies and consulates are not entitled the right of asylum, China hopes that embassies and consulates concerned can offer initiative cooperation. Once they discover any illegal intruder, they should immediately inform the Department of Consular Affairs of Foreign Ministry and hand over these people to public security agencies of China.

As for the issue of handling the unidentified people that have broke into the South Korean and Canadian Embassies, we have required the embassies to hand them over.


Q: The Middle East situation remains dangerous and intense. What special role is China going to play in relaxing Palestine-Israel conflicts and restoration of peace in Middle East?

A: The Chinese side believes that the priority for Israel and Palestine now is to soon stop the conflicts, build mutual trust, and create conditions to settle their disputes through negotiations and realize lasting peace. The Chinese side will continue to make its efforts to realize the lasting peace in the Middle East. Here I would like to tell you that Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang will pay a visit to Israel and Palestine from June 18 and 21. He is going to have an exchange of views on the current situation in Middle East and the further promotion of friendly relations of cooperation with Palestine and Israel with leaders of the two countries.


Q: US Secretary of State Powell suggested the establishment of an interim Palestinian State recently in an article. What’s your comment?

A: China’s position on the issue of Palestine has been clear and constant. China supports the legitimate national rights of Palestinian people, including establishing an independent state. This is also the consensus of the international community on this issue.


Q: In the past, China allowed the North Koreans who broke into the foreign embassies to leave China according to the international law, china’s domestic laws and in a humanitarian spirit. However, more than a dozen of North Koreans lived in two small rooms in the South Korean Embassy. Their conditions were quite poor. I would like to know why the incident has remained unsettled? How is China going to solve the problem?  

A: China and South Korea have been in contact on ways to settle the problem. Currently I have no new information to offer. You have mentioned that these people were in poor conditions. I believe that the best way is to hand them over to China, so that we can handle the case in accordance with the international law, Chinese domestic laws and in a humanitarian spirit.  


Q: What’s your comment on the Loyal Jirga in Afghanistan?

A: The Loyal Jirga of Afghanistan was held on June 11 in Kabul. Deputies from all parts of Afghanistan gathered together to discuss state affairs, thoroughly reflecting the wish of the Afghanistan people for peace. As a neighbor and friend of Afghanistan, we would like to express our congratulations on the smooth convocation of the Loyal Jirga. It is a grand event in the Afghanistan peace process. We sincerely hope that the Jirga will be a success to realize the lasting peace in Afghanistan.


Q: Recently the US added Syria and other countries into the list of the “axis of evil”, which includes Iran and North Korea. Most of these countries are good friends of China. What’s your comment?

A: We do not endorse such connotation in the international relations. China’s position on the issue of counter-terrorism has been clear-cut. We oppose any form of terrorism. At the same time, the fight against terrorism should be clearly targeted and based on complete evidence. We should refrain from relating counter-terrorism with any specific nation, ethnic group or religion and willfully expand the scope of attack.


Q: Can you confirm the visit by US Assistant Defense Secretary Rodman to China? What’s the specific date of the visit? Which cities is he going to visit?

A: The two sides are still discussing about the details of the visit. I have mentioned in my last press conference that the US proposed the visit by Mr. Rodman in mid June. Now the visit has been postponed to late June.


After the press conference closed, a correspondent asked for comment on the recent adoption of a bill by the US House of Representatives with 406 against 0, urging China not to repatriate the North Korean “refugees”.

A: Those people within the Chinese territory who illegally entered China are not refugees. The Chinese Government has always handled the relevant questions according to the domestic laws, international law and in a humanitarian spirit. How to deal with the North Koreans who illegally entered China entirely falls in China’s sovereignty. Any foreign country is not entitled to interfere.